“A bag of nothing, I guess,” Teddy answered. “You seem to be able to build up the finest suspicions I ever saw, Roy. Trouble is, we’ve started looking at this thing from one angle, and we can’t see it from any other. All these things may mean absolutely nothing. We told dad of what you heard when you went back for your knife, but he didn’t think much of it. You see, we’re biased. We can’t figure clearly. Every time the Lefton boys come into the picture we’re looking at it through fogged glasses. What we want is a disinterested viewpoint.” “Yes, but there’s this side of it too, you must remember.” Roy was leaning over his saddle, forgetful that he was standing in the center of the main street of Red Rock. One or two men who had wandered out of a store regarded the two boys curiously, but they were oblivious of their audience. Roy was absolutely, intensely serious, as was Teddy. “You’ve got to look at it this way, Teddy,” Roy continued. “We’ve actually seen and heard all this. Anyone we’d tell it to would be getting secondhand information. He couldn’t judge how it impressed us. The most everyday matters may mean a whole lot more if you can see them happening instead if hearing about them. The tone of a person’s voice, his actions as he’s speaking, all figure in. A first impression is usually correct, I’ve heard, and I believe it. And my impression is that this Peterson and the Lefton boys are up to some mischief that has something to do with us!” Teddy thought for a moment, his chin resting on his hand. So still was he that Flash turned his head inquiringly, as though to be sure his master was still with him. At last the boy spoke, saying slowly: “All right, Roy. You’ve about convinced me. But what of it? What can we do? Nothing except to tell dad to be careful in his dealings with Peterson. And he’d do that anyway. Dad is no fool--he knows the kind of people he bargains with. And he knows Peterson is questionable, too. How can I tell that? By the way he looked at him. So the best thing we can do is to keep our suspicions to ourselves until something turns up. When we get home we’ll ask Gus what he found out about Peterson. And, if dad questions us, we’ll tell him what we think. That’s as far as we can go. We don’t want to make mountains out of molehills, you know.” Roy nodded. “You’ve got the answer, Teddy. We’ll play our own little game. And if anything crops up we’ll be ready. We won’t say anything about seeing Peterson here. Now let’s get back. I want to put in a little practice riding for the rodeo. Won’t hurt you to do some, too, if you want any of the prizes.” “Check! We’ll go.” They turned the horses and rode down the street and out of the town. The two men who were standing on the side watched them go. One of them faced the other. “Say, Jack,” he drawled, “where’d the crowd come from? Circus here?” That was Red Rock.